BRICS committed to advancing Global South agenda, facilitating development: Iranian ambassador

The Iranian ambassador to China spoke highly of the BRICS mechanism's growing role in promoting the Global South agenda and addressing international challenges in a recent interview with CGTN ahead of the group's upcoming summit. 

The 2024 BRICS Summit will take place in Kazan, Russia from October 22 to 24. Last year, the emerging-market group expanded to include five new members: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Ethiopia. The main topics this year range from politics and security to finance and humanitarian ties. 

Ambassador Mohsen Bakhtiar highlighted BRICS' importance and positive influence, particularly for Global South countries.

"I think the BRICS is a very important organization that is committed to advancing the Global South agenda. This mechanism has become one of the largest and most important multilateral mechanisms in the world in terms of population, economic size and area. It is committed to promoting the development of the Global South. In fact, current international mechanisms and institutions cannot create good conditions for the development of the Global South. But BRICS countries can attract the attention of Global South countries and can lay the foundation for the development of the Global South," he said. 

On the subject of the crisis in Gaza and the international community's plea for a ceasefire and peace deal, the ambassador expressed his belief that as the BRICS mechanism develops, it could play a bigger role in global affairs and help make up for the shortcomings of the current international system. 

"Regrettably, the international community and the existing international system have failed to take any effective steps to stop the Zionist war machine. Despite resolutions passed by the UN Security Council, they have failed to stop the Zionist war machine from killing oppressed civilians in Gaza and Lebanon. This shows the inadequacy of the current international system. Therefore, I believe that as the BRICS mechanism and its member states receive more and more attention, the Global South will also receive more and more attention. With the establishment and improvement of relevant mechanisms, the Global South will also have better conditions for common development and progress," Bakhtiar said. 

The Kazan Summit is expecting more discussion about cross-border payment system, including digital currency that is set to boost trade and economic strength among BRICS countries.

"One of the biggest problems we face today is the widespread use of the dollar in financial transactions. But some countries seeking unilateralism try to use the dollar as a political tool to suppress and sanction other countries. Naturally, we can use the potential of the BRICS countries to promote the establishment of a new financial system to create conditions for countries to grow their economies and promote trade. So, I think one of the goals of the BRICS countries is to build a financial system independent of the US dollar," said the ambassador. 

BRICS committed to advancing Global South agenda, facilitating development: Iranian ambassador

Erik Solheim, former UN Under-Secretary-General, criticized the European Union's "race-to-the-bottom" protectionist measures against Chinese electric vehicles at a time when the world is in dire need of green competition.

During an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Beijing on Monday, Solheim, currently the co-chair of the Europe-Asia Center, said that the EU has adopted a faulty approach by imposing punitive duties when it should be facilitating Chinese EVs in the global market.

"It's exactly the wrong decision by the European Union. Because when China now can produce the best solar panels, best windmills, best electric cars and batteries in the world, the world should applaud. And then across Europe should shape the competition and say we need to get up early in the morning. We need to be more innovative so that we can compete with China in going green, and green competition is not bad, that's good, that's a race to the top. While of course protectionism is a race to the bottom because it will slow down the green transformation," said Solheim.

In response to EU's decision to impose tariffs, China has imposed temporary anti-dumping measures on brandy imports from the EU. It may also target EU pork products and large-engine vehicles.

Though the measures adopted so far by both sides would not trigger a full-blown trade war, Solheim nonetheless holds that there are more suitable solutions to Europe's ailing auto production.

"But the best answer to that is for Europe to invite the Chinese electric battery companies, solar power makers or electric car companies, like say BYD or Huawei, to invest in Europe, then there are jobs in Europe, and you get the technology transfer.  By the way, this was exactly how China developed in the past - it invited European and American companies to invest in China to get the technologies and to provide jobs in China. Now it's reversed and Europe should open up for Chinese competition in the European market. That will be very good for Europe and of course also at the end good for China. But please sit down and talk and find solutions," said Solheim.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Thursday, there are still major differences in the consultations between China and the EU on the anti-subsidy case involving Chinese EVs, and the two sides have yet to reach a mutually acceptable solution over the tariff dispute.

The European Commission -- the executive arm of the 27-nation EU -- is set to impose countervailing duties of up to 35.3 percent on EVs imported from China, additional to the EU's existing 10 percent tariff on imported cars, after some EU countries did not oppose the move in an October 4 qualified majority vote.

Even though five members of the bloc voted against the duties, and 12 other members abstained, the Commission can now proceed with the countervailing duties before an October 30 deadline. Negotiations with the Chinese side may continue even after the deadline.

EU should invite Chinese investment rather than erect trade barriers: former UN official